Roller-skate



(No Model.)

J. WILLIAMS.

ROLLER SKATE.

No. 320,108. Patented June 16, 1885.

Wz'fnwes. I [fink/22597.

ZM W

llNTTnn STATES FFICEQ JAMES XVILLIAMS, OF RICHMOND, INDIA NA.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,108, dated June 16,1885.

(No mod cl T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J xnns WILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of Vayne and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in RollerSkates, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to that class of rollerskates in common use forrink and parlor skating.

My invention consists in constructing the lower surface of thehanger-plate concave and the upper surface of the saddle block convex,and in providing the concave surface with a curved slot and the convexsurface with a. curved rib to fit into the same.

It further consists in a novel arrangement of parts to give direction tothe trucks of the skate when in motion.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rear end ofmy'iinproved skate. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the reartruck of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the hanger-plate inverted.Fig. 4c is a top plan view of the convex surface of the saddleblock,showing the spring and its attachments.

In Fig. 1, A represents the foot-piece of a skate of ordinaryconstruction; I), the hangerplate, composed of a rectangular face-platesecured to the under surface of the foot-piece A. Depending from theface-plate is a pedestal, which has its lower end hollowed out or madeconcave, and having a laterally-curved opening or slot, (2, traversingits central section horizontally.

The saddle-block 0, having vertical arms 0 c, Fig. 2, has a shell-formedconvex top surface corresponding in size and form with the concave lowersurface of the hanger-frame 1), into which it is fitted, and having alaterallycurved rib or projection, d, which corresponds in form anddimensions with the slot 11 in the concave surface of thehanger-frame,into which it is fitted and on which it is allowed alateral sliding motion.

A binding-post, a, occupies a recess, 0, in the foot-piece A, and passesthrough suitable openings in the central part of the concave and convexsurfaces, projecting below the lower surface of the shell. of the convexsurface of the sadd1e-block, as seen in Fig. 2, where an axis-pin isfixed in it at right angles to its length, upon which there are placedfrictionrollers 1) p, which are constructed to revolve on theiraxis-pin, their upper circumference bearing against the lower concavesurface of the convex top of the saddleblock, and against which theytraverse as the foot-picce of the skate carrying the postoscillateslaterally, giving a partial rotary motion in a horizontalplane to the truck, saddle, axle, and wheels attached. This partialrotary motion is pro duced directly by the rib d working in the slot (1,both of which being curved in the same radius act together as thefoot-piece is oscillated laterally to turn the saddle-block and changethe direction of the wheels as required. The upper end of thebinding-post a is fitted with a screw-nut, Z, which rests upon a cubicrubber cushion, k, which in turn rests upon the bottom of the recess 0in the foot-piece.

\Vhile the friction-rollers p 1), whose axis is rigidly inserted in thebinding-post (t, have their bearing on the under surface of the convextop of the saddle-block, it will be seen that as the screw-nut Z isturned down upon the rubber cushion k the reaction of the rubber cushionis met by the pressure of the frictionrollers in their increasedpressure against the concave surface of the under side of thesaddle-block, and this pressure is evenly main tained in the lateralmotion imparted to the binding-post at its lower end in consequence ofthe lower end of the binding-post a being constructed to move in acircle of the same radius as that which forms the concave of the lowersurface of the convex top of the saddleblock.

6, Fig. 1, is a V-shaped projection extending forward horizontally fromthe upper portion of the saddle-block 0, immediately under the lateralcenter of the foot-piece, and is fixed to the saddleblock, as shown inFig. 4.

j, Fig. 1, is a post fixed to the lower surface of the footpiece, anddepending vertically from the same, provided with a slot, 10, into whicha knife-blade spring, g, is secured. The spring 9 is slightly arched ina horizontal plane, and its ends are loose on the apex of the Vshapedprojection e. The spring {1 is provided with a rectangular opening, 7/,which holds a screwbolt and nut, 13, which is permitted a longitudinalmovement in said opening.

r r are curved re-enforce side prongs, placed one on each side of thespring 9, and secured to the same by the screw-bolt '5. One end of eachspring r r bears against the post j, while the opposite ends restagainst the sides of the spring 9, intermediate between the post j andprojection e.

The object of the spring 9 is to return the saddle-block c, carrying theaxle n and wheels m, to their original position after they have beendeflected from a line by the action of the skater in turning thefoot-piece. As the reenforce springs 1" r are moved toward theprojection e, the spring 9 is made stiffer or more rigid and acts withmore strength in operating the saddle-block and truck, and the action ofthe spring 9 may thus be regulated as desired.

Having thus fully described my said improvement, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a ro1ler-skate, the hanger-frame I provided with a concavebearing-surface, having 3. The convex saddle-block 0, provided withV-projection e, in combination with spring g and re-enforce springs r rand post j, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JAMES WILLIAMS.

Witnesses: I

W. T. DENNIS, G. H. VVILLIAMs.

